Planning and Conducting Effective Focus Groups

Planning and Conducting Effective Focus Groups

With Jane Powers and Amanda Purington

Wednesday, April 26th, 10:00am – 11:30am

Online via GoToWebinar

Audience: Librarians and Library Directors working in all types of library settings

Description: Focus groups provide a method to collect feedback and qualitative data. Focus group participants are asked about their perceptions, opinions, and attitudes through a guided discussion in an interactive setting in order to gain a deeper understanding about programs, services, products, facilities, etc.

Outcomes: After the workshop, participants will know:

  • The definition of focus groups.
  • When to use focus groups as opposed to other assessment techniques.
  • How to design effective questions.
  • How to recruit participants
  • Facilitation Techniques
  • Methods to record information
  • Approaches for analyzing results and synthesizing findings into a report

Jane Powers is Director of ACT for Youth Center of Excellence, Cornell University. Since 1985, Dr. Powers has been a senior staff member of Cornell University’s Family Life Development Center, now the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, where she has worked on a variety of research projects that have examined the impact of violence on the lives of children, youth and families. Since 2000, she has been involved in the application of research to practice, and has presented research techniques, including how to conduct focus groups, to Cornell’s research community and beyond.

Amanda Purington is Director of Evaluation & Research, ACT for Youth Center of Excellence, Cornell University. With a Bachelors degree in Human Development and a Masters degree in Community and Rural Development, both from Cornell, Amanda has a passion for using research and evaluation to help communities promote and support the health and well being of youth. Using a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods, Amanda works to bridge research and evaluation with practice and policy-making to prevent youth risk-behavior and promote healthy development.

This event is free for all ESLN council members.REGISTER

 

 

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